Marvel Executive Jeph Loeb talks Punisher spinoff, Marvel renewels & awards

February 23rd 2016, 2:08pm

It’s no secret that Daredevil and Jessica Jones have won over Marvel and TV fans alike, and even before the second season of Daredevil has hit, there’s been a lot of talk about Jon Bernthal‘s Punisher getting a spinoff. By all accounts, the popularity of the character calls for it, but Marvel Television’s Executive Vice President Jeph Loeb is taking things one step at a time. He recently spoke with Digital Spy regarding a Punisher show, as well as renewels and the lack of award recognition for Marvel shows.

Jeph Loeb on a Punisher spinoff:

I think that’s something that people are speculating on, as opposed to something that’s actually happening. It’s certainly our hope that any of our characters will be embraced and that people want to see more of them.

Regarding the lack of awards for Marvel shows:

What we’re really trying to do is to tell the best stories that we can. For us, the greatest award was when Netflix called and said, ‘We’d like to do another season with you’. When they announced that Jessica Jones was getting a second season, every single report said, ‘It should come as a surprise to no one that Jessica Jones has received a second season order’. I’m the guy going, ‘Well, it was a surprise to me!’

It isn’t a given in television. The fact that we get to continue telling stories with these characters speaks a lot about the quality of the storytelling and the acting and the writing. We are telling the best stories that we can at Netflix, and they seem to be responding to it.

I’m glad to hear that they’re not jumping the gun over at Marvel when it comes to spinoff shows. The Punisher has some promise, but when you think about it, have we ever seen a live-action adaptation that did the character justice? I know there are fans out there for Thomas Jane and his trusty fire hydrant, but for me that answer is unequivocally, “No.” Let’s see how season 2 of Daredevil turns out and then start signing petitions, eh?

Season 2 of Daredevil will hit Netflix on March 18, 2016.